Communities are encouraged to buy a poppy as this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is launched in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. 

The annual fundraising campaign supports members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, personnel and their families. 

The Poppy Appeal remains the Legion’s biggest annual fundraiser.  

Last year, more than 32 million poppies were distributed across the UK, and about £51.4 million was raised in donations. 

Chris Hayward is managing the Poppy Appeal in North Hampshire & Winchester and said: “Wearing a poppy during Remembrance time shows that you care.” 

“It’s a national symbol, and it shows the armed forces community that you appreciate everything that they do.” 

She added: “For those who want to get involved, you can wear your poppy, donate to the Royal British Legion, Poppy Appeal, and also participate in the collections and volunteer as a collector.” 

Winchester will be recognising remembrance itself, with a service at the Cathedral on Sunday, 9^th November, in addition to a service at Winchester Guildhall at 11 am on Armistice Day. 

The service will begin at 9:20 am and will include a procession from The Broadway to Winchester Cathedral, as well as wreath laying too. 

Donations from the campaign go towards services including mental health support, housing assistance and employment advice for veterans transitioning to civilian life. 

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or order poppies online, visit: britishlegion.org.uk/poppyappeal.  

Cardiff is the first UK city to introduce a “tax” for SUVs weighing over 2.4 tonnes.

The tax is to be enforced in residential permit areas, and also includes cars that are powered by diesel.

Cardiff Council is hoping that implementing this will improve congestion, the air quality, and create space on pavements.

The exact cost has yet to be announced, but the council has announced it will be releasing the tax in phases.

Winchester is a relatively small city with many residential permit areas – the question of a similar initiative being introduced locally has arisen.

Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council chose not to respond to Winchester News Online, with Winchester City Council stating that it is not a subject a councillor is likely to comment on, as it is an issue relevant to Cardiff and not yet an issue to Winchester.

Though the council does not yet deem this a possibility, it has gotten the public talking.

Jet Gates, a disability campaigner, said: 

“It’s going to have a massive impact on disabled people across the UK

“We are a highly marginalized group in society – it’s just yet another nail in the coffin.”

Children will be waiting 703 days on average to be formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a recent NHS Hampshire report suggests.

Steve Trembath, the deputy director of mental health, learning disabilities and autism at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, outlined the issue during a recent Hampshire County Council meeting. 

Mr Trembath said that the main issue preventing a reduced wait time was workforce.

He stated that the NHS have increased its capacity by 29% in the current year, yet the demand for formal diagnoses continues to expand. 

For many families and young people, a formal diagnosis for autism remains crucial for their wellbeing. 

The diagnosis is often sought out since it allows an individual and their caregivers to access the necessary support, and services which are tailored to the young person’s “very unique set of characteristics and needs”, says Mr Trembath. 

To receive a diagnosis, the young person must undergo an interview used to assess them, referred to as “DISCO”.

According to the National Autistic society, DISCO training is often administered to professionals, such as psychiatrists. 

The society claims that early diagnosis is associated with an improvement in behaviour within the first two years, and younger children who have been formally diagnosed may benefit more from interventions. 

For many, having the label allows the system to work in their favour, since a formal diagnosis can help reduce stigma and discrimination for a young person. 

Many county councillors were appalled by the delay in diagnosis.

Councillor Juliette Henderson urged these to be updated, in hope that this will shorten the “shocking” waiting period for many young people.

The Hampshire NHS sector for children’s mental health and autism will be launching a new programme, following a “needs lead approach ”. 

It pledges that every child in Hampshire will have an integrated neurodivergent team by March 2026, Mr Trembath says. 

The initiative will also offer parents online support as a tool kit, while running workshops in person. 

There will be no barrier of diagnosis within the programme, Mr Trembath told councillors, meaning that all children and young people can access support regardless of having a formal diagnosis.

This won’t stop after a young person is diagnosed, and “continued communication” will help support them as they need, Mr Trembath said.

The use of AI was a prominent topic of discussion in the council meeting. 

The future of diagnostic pathways for autism remains hopeful, as studies continue to investigate how AI can help simplify autism assessments.